H Lianzela, leader of the Advisory Council of Salvation Army Laymen (ACSAL) told PTI the special conference of the Territorial ACSAL at the Mizoram-Assam border Kolasib, decided to end the efforts to reform the Salvation Army from inside.
"The two-day special conference decided to form a new church which would have its headquarters at Aizawl," Lianzela said, adding a committee was formed to deliberate on the future course of action.
He claimed the split would affect Mizoram and Manipur while a large number of members left the Salvation Army in Kolasib to join the new church.
Internal bickering in the Salvation Army could not be quenched even by the visit of General Andre Cox, head of the international Salvation Army, earlier this year.